The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has countered claims by the governor of Edo State that the Federal Government has not allowed him to rehabitate Federal roads in his state.
The governor expressed his frustration at the inauguration of Ven. Ebenezer Saiki, as the second Bishop of Akoko-Edo Diocese held at St. James Cathedral, Ugbogbo, Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Obaseki alleging that several requests he made to the Federal government for fixing of dilapidated road infrastructure in Edo State were ignored.
He pleaded with people to prevail on the Federal government to allow him fix roads in his State.
Reacting, Umahi who is the immediate past governor of Ebonyi State urged Edo governor to stop playing politics with road infrastructure in the South South, while he rejected Obaseki’s assertion and described his utterances as blackmail.
Umahi reacted while inspecting ongoing road rehabilitations in Lagos, noting that the Federal Government cannot prevent governors from road repairs, which can enhance the welfare of residents.
He expressed his willingness to expedite approval “for the state government to carry out rehabilitation of the bad portions.
“I will advise my brother and friend, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to stop playing politics with the lives of his citizens. He should stop trivalising the lives of his people on the altar of politics. The election has been won and lost.
“If he approaches me by whatever means to seek permission, even if he sends me requests by WhatsApp or whatever, I will give him approval within two hours so that he can start. But I am going to visit Edo State, and I am going to look at those roads.”
Umahi added: “I saw where something was credited to him; I believe he didn’t say so. But if he said so, this is the answer: that was not the true position. The true position is that all governors, and when I was governor, we also intervened in federal roads. My position is that when the people are suffering due to bad roads, the people do not know which one is federal, which one is state, and which one is local government.
“He doesn’t need our permission as such to intervene, to give a better life to the people of Edo State and other Nigerians that are using the roads.
“I want him to approach the Ministry of Works and seek permission. I am going to visit Edo State, and I am going to look at those roads. Every road in this country becomes a priority, and we are going to face the challenges within the limit of the scarce resources.
“My good brother Obaseki, I want you to send your request on WhatsApp to me, and I will give you approval within two hours when I get it. But I want to know what you are building, and I will advise you to use bitumen. I have seen some of those things in the pictures. If you use rigid pavements, and you can get the design within one hour from me, you will be very much safe.
“But we are also working in Edo State, from Lokoja to Benin, we are doing that. There are other jobs that are also ongoing Z in Benin, Edo State, that I cannot tell you off heart. But we are very committed in Edo State, and Mr. President is also very committed to every part of this country.”
